Happy New Year!

The call came this morning from my longtime pal John Lotz. He is retired and living the good life in Florida these days, but once upon a time we raised a little hell while toiling in the radio biz in Tampa. I love the guy. He has always been like a big brother to me--a wild and crazy big brother, but a guy I always respected and admired.

John had a stroke last year and is now, at 77, in an assisted living facility. His two wonderful daughters insisted on this since John no longer has his wife, Barbara to make sure he takes care of himself. Barbara died the year before last and he misses her like a limb. They were a perfect team.

John sounds just like he did almost forty years ago. The years betray no "old guy" lack of energy in his voice. It's as if we were just picking up a conversation we started last week on the golf course. The only difference is that I no longer frustrate myself with that "good walk spoiled" and he now plays with a two handicap. He was always a marvel on the course.

As we wrapped up our annual catch up phone call, I promised John that 2010 will be the year that Linda and I make a visit to Orlando. She loves him too.

Good friends are like jewels. Treasure them and keep them close.
They'll keep you vertical in 2010.


As Art Buchwald once opined, "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we have."

Happy New year to you all!
And, may Dick Clark continue to be in Times Square for as long as it makes him happy.

The most powerful thing we have is the power of choice. Chose to be vertical in 2010.